【Animal Modeling】-Minocycline inhibits hyperpolarization activation currents of glial neurons in the spinal dorsal horn of rats

  Objective: To study the effect of minocycline on the hyperpolarization activation current (Ih) of rat spinal dorsal horn glia (SG) neurons.

  Methods: 3~5 weeks old male SD rats were selected to make isolated spinal cord cross sections, whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to record SG neurons for Ih, and different concentrations of minocycline (1~300 μmol/L) were perfused and observed. The impact on Ih.

  "Result: About 50% of the recorded SG neurons can record Ih, and this current is blocked by Ih blockers CsCl and ZD7288. Minocycline can reduce the Ih amplitude and the Ih current density. This effect is reversible and dose-dependent. The median effective inhibitory concentration (IC50) is 34 μmol/L.

  Conclusion: Minocycline can inhibit the Ih of SG neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, thereby reducing the excitability of SG neurons, which is of great significance in the regulation of pain.